Twine-holder



(No Model.)

P. 1-". SAUL.

TWINE HOLDER.

Patented Mar. 19

Nv PETERS Photo-Lilhogmpher, wnshm mm 0.6

Trice.

TaTnnT PETER F. SAUL, OF HUMBOLDT, IOWVA.

TWINE-=HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,700, dated March 19, 1 889.

Application filed July 2, 1888. $erial No. 273,789. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern- Be it known. that 1, PETER F. SAUL, a resident of Humboldt, in the county of Humboldt and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lwine-I-Iolders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to twine-holders of the class in which twine is drawn out at intervals for use, and particularly to take-ups or devices for retracting the free end of the twine after a portion has been severed for use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the apparatus in elevation, slightly broken away to show the internal arrangement. Fig. 2 is a partial view looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section. Fig. 4 is a detail view, hereinafter explained. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of the tube with the tension device thereto attached.

In the drawings,A is a spherical shell for containing a ball, B, of twine. It is composed of two hemispherical parts hinged together, and provided with a spring-catch upon the side opposite the hinge for the purpose of keeping the shell closed. The upper hemisphere is rigidly secured to one end of a straight tube, 0, composed of halves united by screws D. The lower screw D passes through a perforated projection, E, upon the shell, and thus retains it in position. The interior cavity of the tube is non-cylindrical, and extends nearly the whole length of the tube 0; but both ends of the tube are closed by a body formed integrally with the tube itself. \Vithin this cavity slides a weight, F, loosely fitting the non-cylindrical space, and consequently incapable of rotation therein. The weight is provided with an eye, G, through which the twine is passed. The tube 0 is transversely perforated at H, near the top, in such manner that when the weight F is at the upper end of the cavity, or when the tube is inverted, the perforation may register with the eye G. Upon one side of the tube, near the lower end, are placed two tension-hooks, J J. Now, when the ball B is placed in the shell the free end of the twine is carried out through an aperture, I, passed over the hook J and under the hook J, and thence carried to the perferation H, where it is thrust through the tube and the eye G of the weight and left with a free end of some length. If the apparatus be suspended by the eye L at the upper end of the tube, it is ready for use, the weight F having fallen to the bottom of the cavity, folding the twine, and shortening the free end by an amount equal to twice the length of the weights path. WVhen the free end is drawn forward, the weight is first raised and maintained in such raised position, for the tension is such that it requires more than the force exerted by the weight to cause the twine to slip, and more tension being applied to the free end K the twine is drawn out to any desired distance, the part K slipping over the hooks J J. hen the twine to be used has been severed and the end K is again set free, the weight F instantly falls to the bottom of the tube, retracting the free end, as already described. It is to be observed that the twine cannot well become knotted or entangled in any way, for the part K is always held taut by the weight, and the fold within the tube cannot twist, because the weight cannot rotate, and, although the twine is suddenly retracted, its momentum is very slight, and there is no tendency for an unnecessary amount to pass into the tube when the weights motion is arrested.

, The hooks J J, Figs. 4 and 5, are each provided with two bends, a b, the first, a, being at one side of the axial line of threaded portion of the hook, and the second, I), nearly in line therewith. Now, either hook J J being in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the bend a at its lowest point with reference to the hooks threaded portion, evidently rotating the entire hook one hundred and eighty degrees brings this bend as far above the threaded portion as it was before below. As shown, the cord passes obliquely upward from the hook J to the hook J, lying in the bend a of the first, which is at its lowest point, and in the bend a of the second, which is at its highest point.

tated from the position shown, the angles of the cords deflection will be increased, and if this rotation be one hundred and eighty de- If either hook alone be rogrees the cord must then be placed in the bend b of that hook. If both be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees, the deflection and consequently the tension becomes a maximum.

To avoid the sound naturally produced by the Weight in striking the bottom of the tube, a piece, M, of felt, rubber,or the like, is placed in the bottom of the cavity.

What I claim is The combination, with the ball-receptacle A, of the two-part tube 0, closed at each end and transversely perforated near its top, the Weight F, sliding but not revoluble in the tube 0, the revolubly -adjustable doubly-bent tension-screw hooks J J, each having its two bends at different distances from its axis of rotation, the eye L, and the non-resonant plate M, fixed in the bottom of said tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

PETER F. SAUL.

WVitnesses:

G. H. SHELLENBERGER, W. W. STERNs. 

